A Gilgandra mother who nearly died after a sudden brain bleed is recovering after life-saving surgery and weeks in intensive care at Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest.
A Medical Emergency Far From Home
Earlier this year, Jessica Tink, a mum of three from Gilgandra in northwestern NSW, was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition that causes dangerous pressure in the brain due to excess fluid build-up. She travelled more than 400 kilometres from her rural hometown to Northern Beaches Hospital for a procedure to relieve the pressure.
On 24 April 2025, Jessica had surgery to insert a stent in a vein at the back of her brain to help drain the fluid. The operation went as planned, but shortly after, Jessica suffered an unexpected and serious brain bleed. She was rushed back into surgery where doctors removed part of the right side of her skull to stop the bleeding and relieve swelling.
Her partner, Jason Conolly, was told the chances of her surviving were slim. He spent long days by her side in ICU, along with their three children — Alex, Xavier and Isabella — who sat at their mum’s bedside, playing music and hoping she would wake up.
A Long Fight in ICU
Jessica was kept in a medically induced coma for five days while her family held onto hope. She slowly began to respond by moving her fingers and squeezing Jason’s hand. What followed was a series of highs and lows — she developed a severe chest infection, needed another operation and stayed in intensive care for a total of nine weeks.
Through it all, Jason and Jessica’s parents spent up to 15 hours a day at the hospital. Doctors and nurses at Northern Beaches Hospital said they were amazed at Jessica’s strength and how she pulled through despite the odds.
Next Steps in Recovery
Jessica is now awake and able to communicate again but has weakness down the left side of her body, similar to someone recovering from a severe stroke. She is expected to spend months in a rehabilitation hospital to regain movement and adjust to life after brain surgery.
While Jessica continues to fight, her family faces the cost of being far from home for so long. A fundraiser set up to help with travel and living expenses has raised more than $14,000 so far. Jason said the past few months have been exhausting but he is grateful for the support that’s helped him stay focused on Jessica’s recovery.
Community Support Keeps Hope Alive
The Tink-Conolly family still has a long road ahead but their local and wider communities have rallied behind them. Jessica’s partner shared how thankful they are for every donation and message of support, saying it has made a huge difference while they adjust to this life-changing event.
Jessica is waiting for a special helmet that will protect her healing skull before she can begin the next stage of intensive rehab. Her family hopes the care she receives will help her regain strength and return home to Gilgandra in the months ahead.
Published 10-July-2025
